Match-box



W. J. PREVOST.

MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.9, 1919.

Patented May 25, L920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I W. J. PREVOST.

MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-9. 1919.

Patented May 25,1920.

L T E E H 4 s T E E H s 2 ,fiivenioit' mmf U l'l' E a an orrica Application filed se temtr T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, .VVILLIAM J. PRnvosr, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Springfi ld, in the county of l'lampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Match-Bones; of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to match contaiirers, and aims to provide a compact con? tainer having an outlet at the bottom through which the finger may be conven iently inserted to lift a single match at a time. I provide additional means by which the matches wlthin the container are forced and guided toward said outlet Another object ofmy invention lsto pro vide for said match container a door of unique construction, which, when closed, retains the stack of matches within the chamher and yet permits them to pass in narrow file through a small outlet at the bottom.

Another object is to provide as an alternative for the door, a retaining device in the form of shutter slid-able vertically. These and other objects will become apparent from the description below. i I

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a cross-sectional elevation of the first form of my device, showing its essential features.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation the second form 01: my device.

Fig. 5 is cross-sectional elevation of the device disclosed in Fig. l, showing the way an uncovered box of matches is inserted to fill the container.

In the description below characters of resierence refer to lilre-named parts on the drawings. I

The base of the container is shown at 1; 2 represents the side walls, and 3 the inclined top. An inclined partition l separates the chamber thus provided into a "front and rear compartment 5 and 6 respectively the former containin and guiding the matches 7 in the manner to be described. The bottom of the chamber 5 is provided with a channel 8, extending rearward of the outlet; this permits insertion of the finger to grasp a match. An additional inclined wall 9 further guides the matches toward the outlet.

Adoor 10, pivoted in the side walls at 11. retains the matches in the chanber 5; said Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

a, 1.919. Serial mosa cs.

door is provided with slots 12 and 13 through which the finger may be inserted and through which the height of the pile'oli matches may be observed at any time. A space is provided between the lower end of the doorlO and the bottom of the chamber 5, through which the matches pass from the chamber. Suitably secured bent rods are provided at this outlet to permit but a single match to pass at one time. An inverted U-shapedrod 14, of a width about equal to that ot the channel 8, is secured at, and extends upright from, the bottom of the chamber 5. A rod 15, curved as shown, is secured in the side walls 2 and extends across the outlet. A second inverted U-shaped rod 16; of greater width than the first and ex tending above the same, is secured at the bottom or" the chamber 5. Thus, on passing under the door '10, the matches are guided upward successively by the rods 14 and 15, and are ultimately removed by beingcaught between the finger and the rod 16.

The partition a is slotted at 17 to receive the piirlilre projection 18 of the depressing member 19. This latter member extends over the interiorcross-sectional area of the chamber 5, and presses upon the pile of matches and forces them toward the outlet. A spring 20 is secured at one end to the base l, at the other to the block 21 secured to the pin 18 in the rear compartment 6. Said block 21 provides an additional guide to the member 19 in its motion up and down the chamber A rear door 22 is hinged at 23 in the side walls 2 of the container; this door permits of access to the rear compartment 6 and the mechanism contained therein. A removable pin 24 passes through a side wall 2 into a suitable hole in the door 10 to lock the latter when closed; a similar provision may be made to lock the rear door. A finger hole 25 is contained in the rear door, this hole may also be used to secure the device to a wall. On each side of the container, the shoulder formed by the base 1 and the side walls 2, is a block 26 having a roughened upper surface upon which the match may be struck.

Figs. 2i: and 5 show an. alternative construction of my container. The frame consists of a back 2. having a hole therein through which the device may be secured to a wall. The side walls are shown at 28; the undersurface 29 is flat, so that the device may be used port,- ably. The bottom of the interior of the chamber 30 is inclined so'that the matches 31 will move, bygravity, toward the outlet. A fence 32, provided with a finger-slot 33, extends outward and upward from thebottom to retainthe matohesat the outlet. The

7 top 34 of the container is slotted transversely V to permit the shutter 35 to slide vertically through it. Vertical slots 38 on theinterior I of the side walls provideadditional guides for the shutter. A shoulder at the bottom of each guide 38' limits thelower position of the shutter so that a sufficient space is provided for the matches to pass. Said shutter retains the matches within the chamber; to replenish the supply, the shutter is lifted. 7 Fingerslots 3b and 37 are out into the shut er 35, "hey also serve as gages for observing the [height of the matches within the chamber.

A roughened surface 39, upon which the matches are struck, is provided on the'upper projection of. the shutter.

V Anv important feature of'my invention a consists in forming and hanging or slidably "mounting the-door of my match safe so that an uncovered full ,box of matches. may be entered within the door opening for the pur-f pose of filling the match box. Fig. 5 shows an i uncovered box ofmatches 4:0 in position with verging toward said i outlet,. a substantially I flat plate slidable lengthwise of said first named chamber, said plate having a pin proj jecting through the slot in said partition into said second named chamber, means to force said plate against the-matches comprising a spring secured at one end to said pin and at the other end to said base, andmatchstriking surface thereon.

2. A containe for matches having in combination, an inclosed chamber portion to receive the matches, the front side of the container comprising a door member which is pivotally secured at its lower end to permit the upper end ofthe sameto open for the purpose of discharging the contents of a full box ofmatches face front, asdescribed, into the container having afix'ed discharge outlet for the matches at its lower end, fixed w res extending across the outlet] to permit only one match at a time to be removed by the hand of, the operator, said the matches in the container.

gwjires serving to hold back the remainder of V r 3. A match container having in combina-- tion, an inclosed chamberto receive vthe matches, the chamber having an inclined floor portion to direct the. matches downward and an outlet opening for the matches at the lower end of the floor, an obstruction in front of the opening, but spaced therefrom to permit the removal of the matches from the outside of the container, said chamher having a movable front portion toreceive the supply for refilling purposes. a I WILLIAM J. PREVO ST. 

